Australian Research Council (ARC) Industry Fellowship
I’m pleased to share that the City of Greater Dandenong has been awarded an ARC Industry Fellowship in partnership with the Australian National University (ANU). The project will be led by ANU and focus on collaborative, place-based approaches to revitalising superdiverse suburban centres, with Dandenong as the primary case study.
It aims to produce actionable and translatable outcomes that connect academic research with policy and practice, with broader application across Australia. A central component of the project is a fully funded PhD scholarship, co-supervised by ANU and myself, with the candidate to be based in either Canberra or Melbourne and embedded within the City of Greater Dandenong. The project will commence in January 2026.
Back Your Neighbour
The Council-led Mayoral and Councillor Taskforce Supporting People Seeking Asylum convened a delegation at the National General Assembly in Canberra 24-27 June to promote the 'Back Your Neighbour' campaign, encouraging more councils to join the advocacy for work rights, social support and permanency pathways for people seeking asylum.
At the assembly, a morning tea was held to celebrate the 7th anniversary of the Back Your Neighbour campaign. The event featured presentations from Mayor Cr Jim Memeti and was attended by over 60 mayors and councillors, highlighting the ongoing commitment of local councils to supporting people seeking asylum. Additionally, the Taskforce hosted an exhibition stand that actively engaged councils in conversations about the campaign. The exhibition sparked strong interest, with 70 new councillors signing on as Friends of the Taskforce—many expressing support to become formal members.
Mayor Jim Memeti also met with the Hon Julian Hill MP, Ms Alicia Payne MP and the Hon Anne Aly MP’s adviser in productive meetings about the Taskforce's advocacy priorities.
See photos on socials @backyourneighbour
Update on Multicultural and People Seeking Asylum Committee and LGBTIQA+ Advisory Committee
Council endorsement will be sought on Monday 11 August for the new Multicultural and People Seeking Asylum Advisory Committee (2025–28), which will provide advice on key initiatives including the thematic plan, strategic partnerships, and support for refugees and people seeking asylum. The committee will comprise up to 15 voluntary members from the community and relevant organisations, with its inaugural meeting scheduled for Tuesday19 August, alongside the next Advisory Committee meeting.
Meanwhile, the Pride Action Plan Working Group will meet on Tuesday 5 August to explore themes for Greater Dandenong’s first Pride Action Plan. A desktop review of LGBTIQA+ Action Plans from three other councils has been shared with the group to support this work.
If your team would like to present to either of these advisory groups, please submit your request by contacting Fran.McKechnie@cgd.vic.gov.au.
Gender Equality Progress Update
Council continues to meet its obligations under the Gender Equality Act 2020, which requires all defined entities to demonstrate meaningful progress toward achieving gender equality. A key part of this is our Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP), and we are currently in the final stages of implementing our 2021–25 GEAP. Over the next few months, we’ll be focused on two major deliverables: completing a gender audit and submitting our final progress report to the Commission for Gender Equality in the Public Sector. These updates help track how we’re delivering on our commitments and ensure transparency by being publicly available. Looking ahead, work will also begin on developing our next GEAP for the 2026–30 period, which is due for submission by 1 May 2026.
End of Financial Year Process
The Finance and Assets teams have been busy updating the value of the council’s important infrastructure this year. This includes things like roads, kerbs, car parks, footpaths, bike paths, and stormwater systems. They check and update how much it would cost to replace these assets. When work is done to fix or improve something, the cost is recorded against that specific asset.
This process helps the council show the true value of its assets in financial reports, as required by accounting rules. By regularly updating these values, the council can plan better for future repairs and replacements and make sure it has the right funding to keep things running well. Recording these costs as investments shows that the money spent will benefit the community for years to come.
Condition Audits and Renewal Planning
The Asset Management team is now focusing on auditing the condition of key asset categories such as buildings, GPTs, drains and pits, wetlands and retarding basins, and footpaths. These condition audits provide essential data for long-term asset planning and help confirm priorities for renewal programs. The findings will support the team’s preparations for the upcoming Renewal bidding and assessment process for the next financial year.
Marjan Hajjari, Executive Manager Strategic Growth and Advocacy